A RIDE OVER THE MOUNTAINS. 89 



distance, the clucking cries of grouse in the bilberry 

 bushes away up on the mountain sides. An occasional 

 star twinkled through the clouds, but the moon on 

 its downward course failed to cast a glimmer of light 

 through its curtain of blackness till it rested on the 

 distant mountain tops, over which for a few minutes 

 it threw a grand display of fireworks, and then sank 

 down, leaving us in darkness still more visible. 



Our steady horses knew every step of the road, and 

 they trotted down steep inclines where a swerve of a 

 foot or two to right or left would have sent us all 

 whirling into space. 



At the foot of Berwyn we came down upon the 

 important mining village of Llangynog, where we 

 gave our trusty steeds a refreshing meal of bran 

 mash. 



Somewhere up yonder in the darkness above this 

 village lies Penant Melangell, the " City of Refuge." 



" 'Tis a church in a vale, 



Whereby hangs a tale 

 How a hare being pressed by the dogs was much distressed, 



The huntsman coming nigh, 



And the dogs in full cry, 

 Looked about for someone to defend her ; 



And saw just in time, 



As it now comes pat in rhyme, 

 A saint of the feminine gender." 



SOUTHEY. 



The poor hare found refuge under the saint's 

 petticoats. This good saint was called Monacella. 

 The princely huntsman, it is said, was so impressed, 

 that he endowed an abbey, of which she became the 

 abbess. 



